Jain Rup Mandan

SR No.: 001961
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Umakant P Shah
Publisher: Abhinav Publications
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 466
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Art
File Size: 27 MB

Page 202

Iconography of 24 Tirthankaras
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world, they continue to give away their property in charity, from the rising of the Sun. One crore and eight lacs of gold is his gift at the rising Sun, as if it were his daily meal. 388 crores and 80 lacs were given in one year."368 Mahavira similarly gave charities for one year. Then the Laukantika gods approaching him requested him to propagate the religion. Mahāvīra, mounting on a palanquin called Candraprabha, went to a garden outside the city, removed all ornaments etc., and plucked out his hair in five handfuls.369
According to the Digambara sect, Mahavira practised rigorous austerities for twelve years. An obstacle (upasarga) from Mahadeva or Sthâņu, created with a view to test Mahavira's steadfastness, at Ujjain in the cremation ground known as Atimuktaka-smaśāna, is narrated by the Uttarapurana.370 Śiva tried to frighten Vardhamana with forms of Vetālas etc., but the sage remained unperturbed and steadfast in meditation at which Mahadeva called him a great hero (Maha-Vira) and praised in many ways. This Digambara account suggesting some strong Saivite opposition has its parallel in the Svetambara account of upasargas from yakṣa Śülapāņi (one with trident in hand, a name of Śiva) at Asthikagrama, known as Vardhamanapura (modern Burdwan).371
Says the Kalpa-sutra: "The Venerable ascetic Mahavira for a year and a month wore clothes; after that time he walked about naked, and accepted alms in the hollow of his palms."372
Śvetämbara texts, Kalpa-sutra, Avaśyaka Niryukti and Avasyaka-Curṇi, as also later commentaries and biographies of Mahavira, give more interesting details about Mahavira's itinerary which have been discussed by Muni Kalyanavijaya in his Sramana Bhagavana Mahāvīra and summarised by J.C. Jaina in his Life in Ancient India as depicted in Jaina Canons.373
In the second year after taking dikṣā, on his way to Uttaravacāla and Svetavi, Mahavira met a deadly huge serpent called Canda-Kausika, whose very sight and breath were poisonous enough to kill any living being (drṣtivisa-sarpa). But even repeated bites by the serpent bore no effect in the case of Mahavira and the serpent was converted. The snake then remembered his past existence and, following the Jaina path of virtue, died of starvation. The Jina's first meeting with Gośāla (leader of the Ajivika sect) took place at Nalanda in the second year of Mahavira's monkhood. In the fifth year Mahavira and Gośāla went to Haledduga from Savatthi. Here under a turmeric tree, while Mahavira was standing in meditation, his feet are said to have been burnt by some fire. Wandering they both reached Coraya Sanniveśa from which place they went to Kalâmbuka Sanniveśa where both were tied and beaten by one Kalahasti and were later on set at liberty by Megha. Then both of them proceeded to the country of Ladha (Radha).374 Here Mahavira had to endure various kinds of sufferings. 375 Dogs were let loose on them and they were molested in various ways. While leaving the country, two thieves, in a border village, tried to assassinate them but were saved at the intervention of the god Sakra. They then went to Bhaddiya or Bhaddiyapura. In the sixth year Gośāla went away and Mahavira wandered alone. At Sälistyagama he met with an upasarga from a Vyantara demi-goddess Kaṭapūtana.376 It seems that this Saliśīrșa was a centre of worship of this child-devouring deity and that Mahavira met with some opposition from worshippers of these Bala-grahas.377 Again Gośāla joined Mahavira. In the ninth year both of them proceeded to Ladha and wandered in Vajjabhumi and Subbabhumi where Mahavira had to undergo all sorts of tortures. Sometimes people set dogs on him and did not give him shelter. The ninth rainy season was spent in this country. In the eleventh year Mahāvīra went to Sanulaṭṭhi from Śrāvasti and thence to Dṛdhabhūmi, a land of the Mlecchas. From here he proceeded to Padhalagima and stood in meditation in the Polasa caitya. A god, Sangamaka by name, thinking that no human being can stand divine tests, created obstacles (upasargas) and caused unbearable severe pain to the person of Mahavira, with several insects, ants, scorpions, lions, elephant etc. as also by blowing terrific winds, by throwing heavy stones and weapons on him and so on.378 For six months from here the god followed Mahavira and put obstacles even in obtaining alms from local population. But all his attempts to deviate Mahavira from his path failed. In the thirteenth year Mahavira went to Chhamanigama where a cow-boy left his two bullocks by the side of Mahavira meditating and entered the village. The bulls ran away. Returning, the cowboy inquired of Mahavira about his animals but the sage, in meditation and observing silence (maunavrata), gave no reply. Enraged, the villager thrust a long nail in each ear of the sage. Mahavira then